Heart Attack Signs & Symptoms - OmniMedicalSearch.com (Myocardial Infarction)

Conditions & Diseases: Cardiovascular System

Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)

See Also:
Heart Attack: Introduction & Overview
Heart Attack: Types
Heart Attack: Causes
Heart Attack: Risks
Heart Attack: Signs & Symptoms
Heart Attack: Medical Tests & Diagnosis
Heart Attack: Treatment Options
Heart Attack: Prevention Methods

Heart Attack Signs and Symptoms

A heart attack is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment in order to increase the chances of survival. It is vital to early recognise the heart attack symptoms. However, each patient reacts differently when experiencing a heart attack. Symptoms can range from none to a significant number of manifestations. Up to 25 percent of heart attacks do not display symptoms and are known as silent heart attacks.

However, most heart attacks do produce symptoms which are usually severe and frightening.

The Signs and Symptoms of a heart attack include:

Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks debut with a mild pain or discomfort. This discomfort is felt like a pressure, squeezing, or fullness. The chest discomfort can lasts for more than few minutes or comes and goes away.
Discomfort in other parts of the body. The chest pain can radiate in other parts of the body such as jaw, one or both arms, shoulder, back, neck, or stomach.
Dyspnea or shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
Cold sweats or paleness
Impending sense of doom
Fainting or lightheadedness with or without syncope
Nausea or vomiting
Indigestion
Anxiety
Wheezing

Women may display slightly different or less noticeable symptoms. The most common heart attack symptom in women is chest pain or discomfort, or "heartburn". Women more than men experience shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, back or jaw pain, clammy skin, or unexplained fatigue.

A person can suffer a heart attack at any given moment (while working, resting, or engaged in physical activity). However, it was noticed that most cases of heart attack occur around the early hours of morning or during physical activity. In 50 percent of cases, a heart attack is warned by signs that occur hours, days, or weeks in advance.

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com

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Page Last Modified:
09/10/2010